Tree-protector.



T. J. MONAMARA.

TREE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1909.

Patented Feb. s, 1910.

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THOMAS J. MCNAMARA, 0F CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TREE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 474,404.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. McNa- MARA, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Clinton, in the county of \Vorcester and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Tree-Protectors, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object to pro vide an article in strip formwhich may be cut into pieces of suitable length and which is soconstructed as to be suitable for protecting trees.

Owing to the increasing prevalence of tree pests, such as the gypsy andbrown tail moths, it has become necessary to take vigorous action in thematter of protecting the trees. One of the most common practices hasbeen to tie a strip of burlap with a string around the trunk or limb ofthe tree. The caterpillars crawling up the trunk or limb get beneath theburlap and there may be captured and destroyed.

In the present invention I provide an article in strip form peculiarlyadapted for this purpose, so constructed that it may be cut up intosections to correspond with varying circumference of the trunk or limb,provided preferably with a wire by means of which it may be firmlysecured in place, and provided with a belt of soft, felted, matted, orcotton-like substance to fit against, and conform closely to, the tree,and which may be impregnated with a poison or insecticide.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanyingdescription and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in theclaim.

The drawings represent the article embodying the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a treetrunk or limb with the tree protector in place. Fig. 2 is an elevationof the strip forming the article. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of theconstruction shown in Fig. 2.

The article embodying this invention is made in a strip-like form. Itcomprises a wide and a narrow strip of some coarse textile material,such as ordinary burlap, these strips being fastened together near oneedge. The two strips may be formed from one Wide strip by folding thematerial lengthwise to form a narrow and a wide strip, and

this construction is illustrated in the drawings, where A represents thewide and B the narrow strip. The strips, Whether formed separately or inone piece, are so fastened together as to provide a pocket. This is donein the construction illustrated by a line of stitching C which forms thepocket at the upper edge of the strips. This pocket provides a locationfor the cord or wire by which the material is to be fastened around thetree. Preferably I insert in the pocket a wire D.

Between the strips A and B and secured in position by any suitablemeans, as by the stitching O, is interposed a belt of some soft,yielding, felted, or matted, or cotton-like substance. I preferably usea low grade of raw cotton waste. This belt of material protrudes frombetween the strips in a fluify-like mass. Preferably I charge thisflufiy-like belt of material with a suitable poison or insecticide whichwill act to stupefy or kill the caterpillars or other insects cominginto contact with it. The material illustrated and described may bemanufactured and sold in rolls or bundles. When it is desired to use thearticle a strip slightly greater in length than the circumference of ithe trunk or limb of the tree is cut off. The material is crowded back alittle on the ends of the wire. The material is then wrapped around thetree with the narrow strip against the tree, and consequently with thefluffy-like belt in contact with the tree. The ends of the wire arebrought together and twisted, as shown at E, to hold the materialclosely in contact with the tree. The flufiylike belt comes in contactwith and conforms closely to all the irregularities of the tree. It willthus be seen that when insects or caterpillars crawl up the trunk orlimb of the tree they will be caught beneath the strip A and by thefiuffy-like belt of material. Here they will be retained until removedor if the belt be charged with a poison or insecticide will be stupefiedor killed.

The article can be cheaply made and is found to be highly eflicient insecuring the desired results. It can be simply and easily applied to thetree and readily removed and replaced when desired.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

A tree protector comprising a strip of textile material foldedlongitudinally to pre sent a narrow and a wide strip and stitchedtogether to present a longitudinal pocket at l the fold, said narrowstrip extending below 2 said pocket, a wire in said pocket a belt of rawcotton waste secured between said strips Witnesses:

by the stitching in forming the pocket and GEORGE L. DRURY, protrudingtherefrom. l WILLIAM H. DIETZMAN.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speclfication, 1nthe presence of 10 two subscribing wltnesses.

THOMAS J. MONAMARA.

